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Costa Mesa Playhouse urges Newport‑Mesa to negotiate after lease cancellation; community warns of cultural loss
Summary
Representatives of the 60‑year Costa Mesa Playhouse told the Newport‑Mesa Unified School District board their lease was canceled with a June 29 move‑out date and asked the district to negotiate an extension or alternative space. The board said it prioritizes the arts and welcomed good‑faith conversations.
The Costa Mesa Playhouse told the Newport‑Mesa Unified School District board on Tuesday that a recently canceled lease threatens the theater’s ability to complete its 60th season and risks ending decades of community arts programming.
"Our lease, which was supposed to go until 2026, had been canceled and we needed to vacate the building by June 29," Mike Brown, president of the Playhouse board of directors, said during public comment. He asked the district to "work with us in good faith" and called the short notice devastating for an organization that has trained students and staged more than 200 productions.
Other Playhouse supporters outlined similar concerns. Kathy Paladino, a longtime educator…
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